All Chapters of FURY OF THE HEART: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Elara’s POVHissed, glaring at Leo as we stood in the conference room's corner, "Tell me you didn't just plan this entire thing behind my back."He leaned against the edge of the table, his sharp blue eyes fixed on me. He said just, "You're angry," his voice shockingly calm."Angry?." I spitted. "You mentioned little risk, so I consented to this meeting. But I'm caught in your mess while Dmitri's men circle like vultures!"You're not stuck," he said, coming forward with easy grace. "We have any leverage at all thanks in large part to you.""Use?" Though tension flared in the air, I shot back, keeping a quiet voice. Leo, you are not a pawn. And I most definitely do not represent your leverage.Leo's jaw hardened, his usually lighthearted smile replaced with something darker, more severe. Elara, you are not a pawn. Whether you like it or not, though, you are now in this struggle. Dmitri cannot stop. He has demonstrated that rather clearly.I ran a hand through my hair and breathed stron

Elara’s POV"Mara, kindly put the gun down."My heart was slamming against my ribs but my voice was steady. Standing a few feet away, my sister clutched a silver pistol as natural born with it in her hands.She laughed. “Why? Does it frightens you, Elara?Leo moved in front of me, his hand hanging over his own rifle, his body stiff. What the hell are you doing, Mara?Tara should be asking you that, Mara replied, tilting her head. "Playing hero and running about with Elara, avoiding Dmitri's troops. It's very lovely, honestly. It will not save her, though.My gut turned whirl. "You are handling Dmitri." It was not a matter of inquiry here. The revelation knocked me like a fist to the stomach.The smile of Mara grew more pronounced. You were always the slow one.I thought the ground underfoot had vanished. The one person I considered trustworthy—my own sister—had been fooling me all this whole time.Leo's mouth closed. This thus was your entire strategy all along. To turn over Elara to

Elara’s POVOn the trigger, Mara's fingers quit. I'll shoot if you go one more step.I choked hard. "Would you?," asked?Still quiet.Her hand trembled just for a split second.And it was all the required assurance.Though she had always been frigid and manipulative, Mara was not a killer. Not in reference to me specifically.Dmitri also noted it.His delighted look veered toward something worse."She won't pull the trigger," he said, sneering. But I will.Time slowness.Dmitri pulled his rifle.Leo pushed me back behind him.Still another shot rang out, deafening and breaking through the darkness.I was startled.Leo stumbled."No!," I gasped.Blood in particular. His blood. Staining his shirt. A red bloom spreads too quickly.Leaving one knee down, Leo grabbed his side.Though she hadn't fired, Mara's gun was shaking now. She stood still.Dmitri moved forward, gun still trained toward Leo."You ought to have stayed out of this," Dmitri said, sounding nearly casual. But you have to p

Elara’s POV"You’re going to regret this, Elara," he seethed.I glared back. "Get in line."Leo covered us as we rushed toward an escape. Just as I reached the door, I peered back—Mara hesitated, appearing torn."Mara!" I shouted.She swallowed hard, then followed.We broke into the night air, rushing for the SUV parked a block away."Get in!" Leo ordered.We barely slammed the doors shut before he sped away, tires roaring on the tarmac.My heart was still racing. My hands wouldn’t quit shaking.I turned to Mara. "Start a conversation. These days.She did not look at me.Mara!She inhaled and sucked. "Elara, I had nowhere to choose from. Dmitri is the owner of me.Leo laughed. "That's a darn handy justification."She gasped but did not object.I started to tighten my hands. "For what duration?"Mara gasped. "A year."Over me a cool wave passed. "a year?"She said yes. "Elara, I got in hot water. I bargained with Dmitri to guard you. He left you alone if I worked for him, he told me. T

Elara’s POV “Tell me you’re ready for this.” Leo spoke in a low, harsh voice full of something black and relentless. His eyes searched for hesitation by burning into mine. None existed. I looked at him without faltering. "I could never have been more ready." Though it stayed in the corner of his lips, a slow smile pulled at them and missed his eyes. Good. Surrounded by scattered blueprints, weapons, and encrypted messages, we stood in the middle of an abandoned safe house on the edge of the city. Sitting in the corner, Nikolai watched us with an unclear look. Outside, the city teemed with anarchy. The Vetrova empire was already turning its gears, shifting, individuals choosing sides. By now my mother had moved. It was mine now. Leo let out a sharp exhale. The men of Dmitri will be expecting us to run. “Then we don’t run.” I straightened. “We hunt.” Nikolai lifted an eyebrow. “That’s quite the shift from the woman who used to avoid bloodshed.” I turned to him, my voice cold.